Blog

At the beginning of this month, NFTY-SW once again came together for another amazing Winter Kallah. Throughout the weekend, we got to do more of everything we love about NFTY. We sang our hearts out at friendship circle and song session. We celebrated Shabbat as a community.

The past three years of my life haven’t revolved around my Jewish community like it did when I was growing up. I’ve had some opportunities at Cal Poly to attend holiday services and to go to Seders at my cousins’ house, but I haven’t felt as strong of a Jewish presence in my life here.

As you pull up to my house this time of year, you’ll see bright blue lights lining my roof. As you walk through the front door, my dining room table is set up with a Star of David-patterned tablecloth, dreidels, and Hanukkiahs. As you look across into the living room, a brightly-colored Christmas tree will catch your eye. As you step into the room, you’ll find my family’s “Hanukkah bush” in the corner: a small tree decorated with a Star of David topper and Jewish-themed ornaments.

It’s safe to say that the world can be a scary and mysterious place. Finding the strength to navigate it can be even scarier. For millennia, we as a people have had to live in a world that has thrown seemingly endless hate and prejudice our way, but to this day we continue to prosper and prevail.

Registration is open for Summer 2018 and more! From two new specialty summer camps, to leadership and social justice opportunities, to Israel and beyond. Visit urjyouth.org for your road map to adventure!

On April 1st I packed my bags for a trip to Washington D.C. with the Jewish Latino Teen Coalition. While I was excited, I really had no idea what to expect. I certainly didn’t expect the incredible journey that it became.

We can’t believe it was a whole week ago that our whole community was together. On behalf of the outgoing and incoming NFTY-SW regional boards, we had a great time giving our newest members a taste of NFTY.